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If you’ve ever longed for Cuban cigars, rum, or coffee (as we have), then Cuba’s newly opened borders are exciting both for your future travels and your future souvenirs. While there are still limitations on how much you can bring home (the United States places a $400 limit on imports from Cuba—and alcohol or tobacco products can’t account for more than $100 of that), if you shop smart, you’ll be able to snag everything on your list. Here, six truly Cuban things you can legally bring home. Just do us a favor and try to pack enough to share.
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The tropical climate of the Caribbean makes its islands ideal for coffee production, so it’s no wonder why Cubans are always enjoying a great cup of joe. But part of the addictive nature of Cuban coffee is in how it’s prepared, with a foamy head—called an espumita—made of a mixture of sugar and espresso. Order a cup and a bag of strong coffee beans to bring home at El Escorial, near Old Havana’s lively Plaza Vieja. Then spend your morning people watching.
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When in the Caribbean, you must drink rum, and Cuba is no exception. Once sugarcane—the spirit’s key ingredient—was introduced to the island by the Spanish, rum production skyrocketed. Get a taste of the best by asking forHavana Club Rum at the local bar. (We recommend the añejo especial—its notes of vanilla and caramel, plus a hint of tobacco, mean it lends itself well to an authentic Cuba Libre with Coke, ice, and lime.) Or head to the Havana Club Museum of Rum, where you can get a lesson on the distilling process in a building that also features a bar and rum shop.
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Few souvenirs can transport you back to a place the way fragrances can. At Habana 1791, pure scents such as rose, patchouli, vetiver, tobacco, and ylang-ylang are crafted onsite using only their namesake ingredients. Bring a bottle back (the small sizes are TSA-friendly!) and you’ll be able to smell the flowers in the streets or the hint of Cuban cigars long after you leave Cuba. If you can’t decide on just one scent, have the shop’s employees make you a specialized mix of your favorites.
